HB 370, the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act, would ban abortion in Ohio by defining "person" to include preborn children from conception, making abortion a criminal offense under homicide laws. It directly affects pregnant people seeking abortions, healthcare providers offering abortion services, and individuals who may pressure someone to terminate a pregnancy. Key provisions require that abortion-related acts be treated as homicide or assault under existing laws, with exceptions only for life-saving procedures on the pregnant person (when reasonable steps to save the fetus are taken) or spontaneous miscarriages. The bill repeals current legal provisions that permit abortion or "prenatal homicide" and mandates due process protections for those subject to the law.
SB 309 requires Ohio healthcare providers prescribing abortion-inducing drugs (like mifepristone) to provide written information about potential complications and a specific liability statement to patients before the prescription. Patients must then sign a written certification confirming they received this information, which providers must retain in medical records for at least seven years. If providers fail to follow these steps, they may face civil lawsuits from patients, fathers, or family members, with statutory damages set at three times the drug cost. The bill directly affects abortion providers and patients in Ohio, mandating new disclosure practices and increasing provider liability for noncompliance.
To amend sections 2305.11 and 2307.46 and to enact section 2317.58 of the Revised Code to enact the Share the Health and Empower With Informed Notices (SHE WINS) Act regarding abortion informed consent.
To amend sections 4503.44 and 4511.69 of the Revised Code to create a removable windshield placard that grants accessible parking privileges to pregnant women.
To amend sections 3125.18, 5101.35, 5101.80, 5101.801, 5101.804, 5101.805, and 5153.16 and to amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, section 5101.804 (5101.91) of the Revised Code regarding services provided through the Ohio parenting and pregnancy program.
To enact sections 341.28, 753.34, and 5120.6511 of the Revised Code to require all inmate pregnancy outcomes to be reported to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
SB 140 defines "freestanding birthing center" as a facility providing low-risk pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care without hospital licensing. It requires all such centers to have a written plan for transferring patients to a hospital during complications. Accredited centers (by the Commission for Accreditation of Birth Centers) are exempt from needing a formal hospital transfer agreement, while non-accredited centers must establish one with a local hospital. The bill, introduced in 2025, would affect birthing centers and their patients by setting specific operational standards for emergency transfers.
HCR 12 is a House Concurrent Resolution that formally recognizes the importance of perinatal mental health. This resolution serves to acknowledge the significance of mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
SB 267 designates the week including March 22nd as "Ohio Doula Awareness Week" in the Revised Code. This bill creates a ceremonial observance to highlight the role of doulas in maternal care within Ohio. It does not create new laws, funding, or direct obligations; it simply establishes a designated week for awareness. The bill directly affects Ohio residents by formally recognizing doulas' contributions to pregnancy and birth support through this annual observance.
HB 410 prohibits Medicaid from paying for abortion services provided by specific abortion clinics or providers. This bill directly affects low-income Medicaid recipients who seek abortions at those designated facilities and the providers who would lose Medicaid reimbursement for such services. The key provision, added as section 5162.09 of the Revised Code, bans Medicaid funds from being paid to providers meeting certain criteria. As a result, abortions performed at these providers would no longer be covered by Medicaid, requiring patients to pay the full cost out-of-pocket or seek care elsewhere.
